image via Crazy Mary
A s we consider what kind of home we can afford and hope to find in Seattle, we’re fairly certain it will be a small house that may need some remodeling. We’ve been attending open houses to get a feel for the market and what to expect. One consistent observation in older, smaller homes in our price range is that kitchens are often small, closed off, and dark. Cabinets frequently line exterior walls, leaving little to no room for windows.
image via Crazy Mary
Alongside the usual ideas—removing walls, adding French doors, or installing new exterior windows—we’ve explored other creative ways to bring more light and better flow into a small home. One simple, effective option is an interior window. It can create the illusion of greater space and allow additional light to pass between rooms without increasing the kitchen’s footprint.
An interior window preserves the sense of a separate, quieter kitchen while removing the visual barrier of a full wall. In small homes, more light instantly reduces feelings of confinement and makes rooms feel more open. After living in our current house for six and a half years, I’ll miss the kitchen not only for its look but mostly for the abundant light it receives from large exterior windows throughout the day.
Even if our next house doesn’t have the ideal natural light, I enjoy the challenge of improving a space. I’m drawn to solutions that are both charming and practical. For many dark or cramped kitchens and dining areas, an interior window is a smart, attractive solution that balances openness with privacy.
I’ve used this approach before—one of our previous homes featured a similar interior kitchen window—so I’m fond of the look and the benefits it brings. A small snapshot of that earlier kitchen window appears in one of my older posts, a reminder that simple design choices can make a big difference.
Happy Monday, friends!